Improvement in horse-detachers



M. G. THO MAS. H'orse-Detacher.

No. 203,216. Patent ed Apr-i l 30,1878.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR fiZMM,

' ATTORNEY PEI'ERS. m 'raurhocmman. WASHINGTON, 0v a UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MADISON G. THOMAS, OF LA FAYETTE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-DETACHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 203,216, dated April 30,1878; application filed March 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, MADISON (l. THOMAS, of La Fayette, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Safety Attachments for Vehicle Tongues and Shafts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a'representation of a top view of my improvement in safety attachments for thills and tongues. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in means for attaching the thills or polesto vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the shaft or pole maybe detached from a vehicle in the event of the horses running away, or.of other accidents.

The nature of the invention will be fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, the letterA designates the usual axle-clips, secured to the front axle in the customary manner, which axle supports the spring 0, when one is used, and the bolster D, confined thereto, in the usual manner, by a king-bolt. E represents a vertical shaft, arranged in bearings upon the bolster and axle, and provided at its lower portion, on a level with the clips A, with a cross-head, F, to each end of which is pivoted a rigid metallic rod, G. The free end of each of the rods G' extends through the eyes of the axle-clips and those of the thill-irons, and when thus engaged couples the thill to the axle very effectually. The shaft E extends through the bottom of the vehicle-body, and is provided with a manipulating handle or lever, J ,or, preferably, it terminates under the body, and is operated by means of cords connected to said lever. By turning the shaft E the rods are drawn out of the axle-clip, thereby detaching the thills and letting the animal go.

The cross-head F is prevented from casual rotation, whereby the ends of the rods Gr would be disengaged from the thill-irons, by means of a stop, 8, secured on the top of the lower bearing 00 of the rock-shaft E, and abutting against the said head, and by means of a spring, 2, under said lower bearing, engaging the lower end of the stem E or a nut thereon, as shown in Fig. 2.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a horse-detacher, the combination, with the axle-clips and the thill or pole eyes, of the vertical rock-shaft E, spring 2, and stop 8, the horizontal cross-head F, and the rods G, pivoted to the ends of the said head, and extend ing through the thill and clip eyes, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

MADISON O. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES L. HENING, JOHN P. STANLEY. 

